The Minority in Parliament has accused President John Dramani Mahama’s government of engaging in publicity gimmicks to conceal what it describes as the administration’s failure to curb the illegal mining (galamsey) menace ravaging the country.
In a statement issued in Accra on Tuesday, the Minority described the President’s recent engagement with selected Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on illegal mining as a calculated attempt to cover up his government’s incompetence in tackling the crisis.
According to the statement signed by Hon. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Member of Parliament for Mampong and Ranking Member on the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, the Mahama-led administration has failed to demonstrate the level of resolve required to address the galamsey crisis comprehensively and effectively.
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“It is clear that the encounter with the CSOs was a publicity stunt calculated to cover up the Government’s failed attempts at dealing with illegal mining,” the statement read.
The Minority noted that the situation has worsened despite government assurances, citing increasing turbidity levels in major rivers, contamination of soils and crops, and the destruction of forest reserves.
“Amid increasing browning of our water bodies, the President of the Republic could look into the eyes of Ghanaians and tell us he is winning the fight against illegal mining,” the statement added.
The caucus compared the current administration’s performance to that of the Akufo-Addo government, which, it said, implemented decisive measures including the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), the launch of Operation Vanguard, and the introduction of mercury-free gold processing technology known as “Gold Kacha.”
Under President Akufo-Addo, there was a clear two-pronged approach combining law enforcement with regulatory, operational, and policy reforms. That commitment is missing under the current government,” the Minority argued.
The statement also alleged that many of the Mahama administration’s current initiatives are merely renamed versions of existing Akufo-Addo-era policies, including the rebranding of ‘Operation Halt II’ as ‘NAIMOS’ and the ‘National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme’ as ‘Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme.’
“Without a doubt, this Government lacks the political will to fight galamsey, and has merely resorted to the renaming of policies and programmes introduced by the Akufo-Addo Government,” Hon. Ampratwum-Sarpong stressed.
The Minority warned that Ghana faces dire environmental and health consequences if immediate and decisive measures are not taken to halt the illegal mining menace.
“Turbidity levels in our rivers are now dangerously high, vital organs of citizens are being damaged by contaminated food and water, and our forest reserves are being degraded into mining enclaves,” the statement warned.
The caucus called on civil society, the clergy, and traditional authorities to speak out, just as they did in times past, in defence of the national interest.
“Ghanaians can no longer be subjected to propaganda and publicity gimmicks in place of genuine solutions. The nation requires competent and effective governance in the public interest,” the statement stressed.